Cross-tie.



W. E. JONES.

GROSS TIE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1911.

litigi Oct 10, 1911.

Patented lNI'IED STATES TENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. JONES, O E CHASE MILLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE HARRY BEVERLY AND EDWARD LYMAN BILL, BOTH OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CROSS-TIE.

. l Application led May 31, 1911.

To all 'whom fit 'may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM E. JONES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chase Mills, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Cross-Tie, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. l

This invention relates to cross ties for use with railroad track rails and the like, and has .reference more particularly to a cross tie which comprises a body, and railsupporting means at each end thereof mounted to swing into and out of normal positions and having a limited movement longitudinally of the body, this movement serving to raise or lower the rail-supporting elements.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and durable cross tie intended to replace the ordinary wooden tie now generally used, and which can be employed with railroad track rails and the like, with which ordinary rail -holding means such as spikes, chairs and braces now generally employed can be used, which tends to prevent spreading of the rails, by means of which one or the other of the rails can be raised or lowered as necessary, which can be employed on straight track sections as well as on curves, and the employment of which permits the tracks to be easily and expeditiously laid and repaired.

'Ihe invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a cross tie constituting an embodiment of my invention, showing the same used to support a pair of track rails; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, showing the rails in cross section; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the tie; and Fig. t is a transverse section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be understood that the tie can be fashioned from any suitable material adapted for the pur- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

serial No. 630,328.

pose; for example, from sheet metal bent or stamped into form, or from cast metal. The rail-supporting means include elements as will appear hereinafter, which are substantially wedge-shaped blocks arranged adliustably in superposition. I prefer to form these parts from wood, though any suitable material adapted for the purpose can be employed.

Certain of the details of construction, shown for example herewith, form no part of the invention, and can be varied in accordance with individual preference and special conditions, without deviating from the essence of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I provide a tie body 10, which is of substantially rectangular cross section, and is of hollow open-ended form. The bottom 11 of the body has at each end a downwardly disposed lip or spur 12 adapted to enter the ground or the road-bed, to hold the tie firmly in position against displacement in the direction of its length. The sides 13 of the body are connected between the ends of the same by a top 14 which is comparatively short, and thus leaves the end portions of the body open or channel-shaped. Near the ends, the side walls 13 have rectangular recesses or cutaway parts 15 extending inwardly from the upper edges, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

Positioned within the body at each end thereof, is a wedge-shaped block or end support 16, the tapered extremity of which is inwardly disposed. The blocks are held adjustably in position by means of cross bolts 17 which extend through registering openings 18 or 18a of the body sides. I prefer to provide a plurality of these openings, so that the blocks can be adjusted longitudinally of the body. Supported upon each of the blocks 16 is a second block or rail carrier 19, likewise of taperedv form, but having the smaller end outwardly disposed. Secured upon the upper, and normally horizontal surface of each rail carrier is a plate 20 fastened'in position by means of spikes 21 or the like, and having the outer ends 22 rearwardly disposed and bent under the tapered extremity of the carrier. At the other end, each plate is extended, downwardly disposed and rearwardly folded to form a vertical hinge shackle 23, which receives a cross bolt 24 located in suitable, registering openings of the sides 13 adjacent to the ends of the top 14, and which prevents longitudinal movement of the block 19.

At the cutaway parts 15, the sides of the tie body are outwardly disposed to receive within them downwardly arranged flanges 25 of the plates 20. These flanges 25 are arranged in juxtaposition with the sides of the rail carriers and register substantially with the cutaway parts 15. The track rails 26 are supported upon the rail carriers 19, and rest upon the plates 20, extending across the flanges 25 and the cutaway parts 15. The rails are secured in position in any suitable manner, for example, by means of rail spikes 27, which are driven into the rail carriers through suitable openings of the plates. If so desired, rail braces or chairs 2S can also be secured in place at the sides of the rails, by means of spikes 29, or in any other convenient way, to prevent lateral movement of the rails.

It will be understood that by sliding the blocks 1G longitudinally of the tie body, upon the end supports, the carriers will be raised or lowered owing to the inclined faces in contact. In this way, the ties and rails can be adjusted yas desired. Furthermore, the fact that the supports 16 are themselves adjustable, permits the exact regulation of the rail ties. This adapts the ties for use at curved as well as straightaway portions of the track. In laying the ties and the rails, the rail carriers can be swung into and out of position, owing to the connections 23,

24, between them and the tie body, to allow the adjustment of the blocks 16. As the extremities of the rail carriers are protected by the ends 22 of the plates 20, the carriers can be pried out of the body by means of a crowbar or any other suitable implement, without danger of splitting the wood, or otherwise injuring the carrier. By providing the cutaway parts 15 I avoid actual contact between the track rails and the tie body. In this way the rails are to a certain extent cushioned upon the wooden blocks. This 'is a desirable feature, and is one not often found in metal ties. My tie therefore embodies the` advantages both of the ordinary `metal tie and the wooden tie.

The blocks 16 are reversible and owing to the fact that they have bearing surfaces of different dimensions at the opposite faces, the reversal permits an additional adjustment `of the rails. It will be understood that :the blocks 19 are held against movement longitudinally, to prevent rail spreading, as the hinge shackles 23 are vertical and permit a correspondingly vertical movement only of the blocks. The openings 18 or 18a are arranged to permit the reversal of the blocks and respectively register with the bolt openings of the same in different positions thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A cross tie comprising a body, rail supporting means at each end thereof mounted-,to swing into and out of normal positions, and reversible means for determining the angularity of said rail supporting means.

2. A cross tie comprising a hollow, openended body, rail-supporting members adjustably arranged in said body at the ends thereof, said members being mounted to swing into and out of position, and having means for supporting the rails out of engagement with said body.

8. A cross tieconiprising -a hollow, openended body, pivotally mounted adjustable end supports in said body, and rail carriers movably connected with said body and adapted to rest upon said supports.

4. A cross tie comprisinga body, end supports associated therewith and presenting inclined surfaces, and rail carriers adapted to rest upon said end supports and pivotally connected with said body.

5. A cross tie, comprising a body having ends of channel form, an end support `located in each of said ends of said body and having the upper surface upwardly and outwardly inclined, rail carriers mounted upon said supports `.and having inclined under surfaces, means for adjustably holding said supports in place, and means for holding rails upon said carriers, said carriers having loose pivotal connections with said body.

6. A cross tie, comprising a body of open, channel form at the ends, an inclined block constituting an end support adjustably mounted in each end of said body, a rail carrier resting upon each of said blocks, a plate secured upon each of said carriers and having va rearwardly folded end constituting a shackle, a bolt extending across said body and received in each of said shackles, and means for securing rails upon said plates.

7. A cross tie, comprising a hollow body open at the ends, end supports adj ustably secured in said body at the extremities thereof and of wedge form, wedge shaped rail carriers movably mounted upon said supports and having loose pivotal connections with saidl body, said body having the sides cut away near the ends thereof, plates secured upon said carriers and having downwardly disposed flanges at said cutaway parts of said body, and rails secured upon said carriers at said flanges and said cutaway parts.

8. A cross tie, comprising a hollow body channel shaped at the ends, and having at the extremities downwardly disposed spurs, wedge-shaped end supports adjustably secured within said body at the ends thereof, wedge-shaped rail carriers mounted upon said end supports, plates mounted upon said carriers and having at the sides downwardly disposed flanges, said body having the sides cutaway and outwardly' offset at said flanges, said carriers having loose, pivotal connections with said body, and rails supported upon said carriers at said flanges, said flanges being received within said body at said offset parts thereof.

9. A cross tie, comprising a body, wedgeshaped rail carriers associated therewith, and top plates secured upon said carriers and having the ends inwardly disposed around the smaller extremities of said carriers, to form guards therefor.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM E. JONES.

Witnesses:

JOHN K. BRAoKvoGEL, PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C. 

